Girls Nintendo 3DS Party

When I was a little girl (say second or third grade), I could play the first level of Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo with my eyes closed--honest truth! We've held out on purchasing a gaming device for our kids for a long time, instead opting for apps on our devices. But when I got the opportunity to throw a girls Nintendo 3DS party, it didn't take long for me to say yes! I love that the DS's are portable (and put-away-able) but provide a more intricate game experience.

I'm a keep-it-simple-gal when it comes to parties, so a few easy to put up decorations, some colorful partyware (the paper goods are all from Susty Party), and some yummy snacks on top are just right. (I brought in our garden patio set that we spray painted blue a while back).

My oldest daughter, Eleanor, reminds me a lot of me at her age (she's 6). She's creative and curious and silly as a goose.

Each of the girls had different levels of experience with gaming, and they all got the chance to play Tomodachi Life and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. We had no experience with playing these games, so it was initially a bit like figuring out a puzzle--but a puzzle they were very excited to do. That's the beauty of a good video game--they challenge kids to think while having fun at the same time.

There was a lot of reading needed for Animal Crossing in particular--so the girls needed a bit of help getting started. They practiced their spelling and sharing and collaborating skills, and they all loved creating their own Mii characters in Tomodachi Life--like playing virtual dress up dolls!

The 3D part of the new 3DS is pretty awesome, and you can adjust the intensity of it which is great. After the party we discovered how to use the AR Cards that came with the system. The built-in AR Game app is able to detect the cards and the game comes to life right on your kitchen table--I found myself playing on it for half an hour!

Overall, I'm excited to introduce our kids to the Nintendo 3DS, and they're absolutely loving it, too.

Do your girls play video games? Do you have any favorite DS games? Feel free to share them in the comments, we're on the hunt for more great ones!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.